GAME TURN SIX
Captain Livingstone was asleep in his cabin with orders not be disturbed short of the harbor coming under attack or the ship being surrounded by mermaids.
The First Leftenant makes his
way from the dark cabin to the main deck. The weather is clear with just a hint
of breeze, visibility excellent. HMS Crab is patroling the harbor
entrance. Hernan Darkridge shifts his shoulders, look about himself, and smiles.
The deck is wet from swabbing, the rig secured and the seamen seems to be
satisfied. Veterans most of them, and secure in their skills and positions on
His Majesty’s Ship Jana. The ship as a whole is in good shape. Hernan is
relieved. The initial disappointment by losing the post on the Watcher
has subsided for a more noble feeling. This small ship is part of a great navy,
a navy that has to maintain security on many levels. He has the chance to serve
on this ship and make a difference. He has the chance to distinguish himself,
and to make his father proud. The position as First Leftenant may prove to be a
chance for him to make something of himself...
His high ponderings are disturbed by two young ladies waving to him from a
fancy longboat. They're passing, and he acts as if he does not notice them. Oh,
this banquett, and the ball tomorrow! If he could escape it all. It's too
awkward, being around flirtatious fillies and at the same time trying to
maintain serenity amongst your superiors. He knows all too well how important
it is to make a good impression in such occations, and all the more he would
wish to be left out of it. If only his seamanship and other hard earned skills
could decide...
A ruckus among the marines disturbes
his miserable revelries. Two big men going at each other with the muskets
waiving high. Threathening to break the thick skulls. His instinct is to flee
from the danger, but his sense of duty tells him to take action. Calling the
fancy longboat he orders the two Army Officers to row him ashore. The
compliance is not immediate, the two cavaliers looking at the ladies for
confirmation, and that decides it for young Leftenant Darkridge commanding them
with a voice greater than you would think, coming from such a lithe body, he
compels them to postpone their original quest, and bring the ladies
alongside.The men seem hesitant, but one of the seamen tells him that Royal
Navy mate, you had best cooperate Subaltern Gorges and Subaltern Kartor 11th
Foot are annoyed but tell the men rowing the boat for them and their companions
to pull alongside. They are clearly annoyed by the young ladys attention given
to the naval officer. He jumps down, somewhat clumsy, and orders the longboat
to head for the docks. The ladies looking at him makes his blood fill his ears
with an insistent rythm, and colour them bright red. They point at him,
whispers and giggles. He stands stiff, fixing his eyes on the fighting marines.
In a heated state he jumps from the rail, slides, catches himself, and crawls
up on the docks. Straightening himself he orders the men there to subside at
once. They don't hear him at first so he reddens even more, catches his breath,
and hollers his order at them. Several of the Marines hesitate then step back.
The dozen men stop fighting, looking down at the Jana’s First Leftenant.
After a short silence the small man tells them that the reason for their
fighting do not interest him. "You have used the muskets in your
fight" he explains with grave consern, "You may smash your thick
skulls against anything, but you will not use His Majesty's Muskets in this
fashion. Please set the valuable muskets aside and find some other means to
crush your invaluable heads". He then turns to the longboat, climbs down,
and orders the perplexed army officers to row him back to HMS Jana. His
order to them carries high. His emphasis on "HMS" and him giving
orders to army officers of higher rank than himself, none of this is lost
amongst the marines.
Before he can return to the longboat an individual wearing the uniform of a Major in the Royal Marines walks up, Marines instantly straighten up, come to attention. He says "You sir, are interfering with my men, EXPLAIN YOURSELF" An attractive young lady further down the dock calls from an elaborate carriage "John Paul will this take long, I'm board" The Marine Officer's expression softens as he says, "No Francesca I don't believe it will...."
The young leftenant reddens ever so slightly, salutes the officer and answers: "First Leftenant Darkridge, Sir, HMS Jana. Pardon me Major, I found it necessary to admonish your men on behavior in the presence of ladies". With a gesture to indicate the two ladies in the longboat he continues: "Your men took the lesson admirably, Sir. Good men, the lot. Sorry to have bothered you, and my apologies to your companion. With your permission I will return to my ship". He make a bow to both the Major and his consort. The Major dismisses him with a" very well carry on” and the Leftenant took his leave. Surtees was a bit annoyed with the navy interference still it had taken some resolve when the young officer could have ignored the situation. His thoughts were interupted by Francesca pouting, “John Paul...?” “Coming dear,” he replied.
He ask the two army offisers in
the longboat, addressing them politely as gentlemen now, if they would be so
kind as to row a stranded seadog back to his ship.The ladies in the boat tries
to investigate the young officer on the way out, but he stumbles on his words,
excuse himself clumsily and is visibly relieved when the longboat scrape
alongside the Jenna. He bids the ladies farewell, red as always in the
company of beauties, salutes the army officers and climb aboard the Jenna
again. Along the docks all is quiet. The Major is on his way already. The fighting
marines are making up, laying arms around eachothers shoulders, promising rum
in the tavern, laughing, and pointing in the direction of Jenna. First
Leftenant Darkridge stands straight, placing his small hands studiously on the
rail. He is satisfied with solving the small ruckus without giving the men
serious trouble. The war is too long, their service too dangerous, and their
quarters too cramped to make the marines pay for every little display of
unspent energy. The current cameraderie on the docks makes him sure that his
gauge of the situation was sound.
Leftenant Darkridge relaxes, and loose himself to pondering the great danger
looming ahead; a couple of social battles with little hope of honor or glory.
Some ours later the Leftenant is faced by a logistics problem. How will he get
to the Admirals dinner? No affordable solutions have surfaced for him. The
captain seems to be in a sore spot himself. Darkridge ponders the problem. A
carriage... wheels... horses... Why on the seven seas should something so
trivial be a problem? A carriage!
It dawns on him. O'blimey! Of course! A gun carriage! And the sailors! He
dismisses the idea first, but then he remembers his fathers saying: "Keep
a straight face in crisis, but let the laugh ripple in calm waters". It
makes him turn the idea over again, in his thoughts. It may do the men some
good. Sitting in a harbour is dreadfully boring. Some action is not a bad
thing. And he will get there...
He goes down. In the murky orlop deck he finds what he need; sailors longing
ashore. He give them his proposition. The oportunity is too hilarious to be
rejected, so the volunteers are not hard to find. They set to work at once. He
commands them with pompous efficiency and the jolly seamen obey with VERY
serious faces. They will of course be excellent as "horses" for this
carriage. He promises he will try to get them some ale while
"stabled" under the dinner. "Wet barley for the horses", he
mimicks with grave voice. Several of the younger ones buckles over. This makes
the building of his carriage go even better.A good hour later his conveiance is
carefully hoisted over the rail and lowered into the longboat. It's not a
spectacular baroush, but it is most certainly a carriage... of sorts. It is
based on a gun carriage, with a high seat made of canvas, and a small mast
flying a white pennant. Around it they have built a hull, painted a broad white
stripe around it and marked the cannons in black. The whole spectacle is
designed to resemble an american frigate. It will let him arrive at the dinner
sitting in the high seat of his own carriage, named "HMS Dinner" (one
of the seamen had the idea and painted it on), surrendering it to the Admiral.
They row it ashore and secure it under a sail for the upcoming trip. They leave
the makeshift harnesses on the docks too, and make for the ship again.
Leftenant Darkridge observes that nobody seems to have noticed anything out of
the ordinary. The men is in good spirits, looking forward to an extra landleave
by this strange feat, and to their special performance as propellants of First
Leftenant Darkridge, campaigning the Admirals dinner. The Leftenant himself is
worried, smiling of his subordinates jokes and joy in a diffident maner. He
sincerely hopes the Admiral has some sense of humour.
Midshipman Collins approached the First Lieutenant with a letter written in a very feminine hand. Taking the letter and dismissing the young gentlemen he read the brief note.
Leftenant Darkridge
The Countess Suffren was most impressed with your activities today and hopes to see you at Lord Rupert’s Grand Ball. She would be pleased to receive you should care to call on her. Also she hopes the Lieutenant is as skillfull on the dance floor as he is on the docks dealing with ruffians.
Anne
Lady in Waiting to the Countess